Crumb-tray.



Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

A. V. GREEN. i GRUMB TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1909.

AIVIOS V. GREEN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CRUMB-TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Application filed .Tune 19, 1909. Serial No. 503,132.

To all whom, it' may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos V. GREEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Crumb-Trays; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of refer-l encemarked. thereon, which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to improvements in crumb trays, my object being toprovide a device adapted for use with one hand, which shall take theplace of the knife and tray used in removing crumbs from the surface ofa table.

My improved device is equipped with a. closure which is normally shutunder the influence of a spring. This closure may be opened by pressingupon a button located adjacent the handle of the device, the pressurebeing exerted by the thumb of the hand which holds the tray. Within thebody of the tray is located a sort of flange or ledge longitudinallydisposed, behind which the crumbs are lodged and cannot escape from thereceptacle of the device, except by turning it upside down, allowingthem to pass out over the closure, which is then held open for thepurpose.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed todescribe same in detail, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved device. Fig.2 is a cross section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similarview, but showing the closure or front lid in the open position. Fig. 4is a fragmentary, longitudinal section taken on the line 1f-4:, Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified form ofconstruction. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing stillanother form of the device.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body of the device which consists of acasing having a top part 6, a rear part 7, a bottom 8, and a forwardlyprojecting member 9, forming a continuation of the bottom, there being,however, a slight offset 1() between the member 9 and the bottom properof the receptacle. The part 9, as shown in the drawing, extendsforwardly from the closure or lid 12 when the latter is in the closedposition. This lid is hinged to the forward edge of the top part of thereceptacle, as shown at 13. At one end, being that adjacent the handle4f of the device, the lid is equipped with an inwardly projecting part14, having a slot 15 which is engaged by a lug 17, formed integral withan operating stem 18, which protrudes upwardly above the receptacle, atone end, as shown at 19. Outside of the body proper of the receptacleand at the handle extremity thereof, an auxiliary compartment 20 isformed, into which the stem protrudes, the inwardly protruding part 21of the stem being formed hollow for the reception of a spiral spring 22,whose upper extremity engages the stem and whose lower extremity restsupon the bottom of the compartment 20. The oompartmen't 20 is separatedfrom the body of the receptacle by a partition, having a slot 16,through which the lug 17 of the operating stem protrudes. As this slotis relatively narrow, there is little opportunity for dirt to enter theauxiliary compartment, which might interfere with the operation of thespring.

In the making of the device, a small plate 23 is employed to close theopening through which the stem is inserted. To the upper extremity ofthe stem is applied a button 24, having a threaded shank 25, whereby itis readily removable. l/Vhen the stem is originally applied to thedevice, being inserted through the opening in which the plate 23 islocated, the button is removed. After the stem has been put in placewith its part 19 extending above the body of the device, the button isapplied. As shown in the drawing, the portion of the receptacle formingthe compartment 2O is reinforced at the top as shown at 26, thereinforcement extending a s hort distance from the end of the device.From this reinforced part, the

handle 4; protrudes. As shown in the drawing, this handle extends in thesame direction as the longest dimension of the body of the tray. It may,however, be attached in any suitable manner. Within the receptacle 5,just in the rear of the lid when closed, is a retaining flange or plate27, whose lower edge is secured to the bottom of the receptacle andwhose upper edge extends a short distance above the bottom whereby thisplate prevents the crumbs from escaping from the tray, after kthey havebeen thrown to the rear thereof.

rlhe detailed description heretofore given, relates particularly to theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. In Fig. 5, theconstruction is similar, except that the lid which is designated Q8 ishinged at the bottom of the device, as shown at 29, and a slotted plate30 is attached to the upper part thereof. The slot 3l of this plateengages the lug 17 of the stem in the same manner as in the other formof construction. In the modified form shown in this view, the lid isopened by depressing the stem in the same manner as in the other form ofconstruction. However, the lower edge of the lid moves downwardly to thedotted line position in Fig. 5, leaving a sutlicient space between thetop of thetray and the upper edge of the lid for the crumbs to pass intothe receptacle. In this form of the device, there is no occasion for theretaining plate or flange 27, shown in the other forms of construction,since the lid when in the open position performs the double function ofa lid and a retaining plate or flange.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 6, there is a retaining plateor llange 32, located at the front of the receptacle, its lower edgebeing secured at the offset l0 at the bottom of the device. A relativelyshort lid 33 is hinged to the top of the tray, as shown at 34C. At theextremity of the device, adjacent the handle 35, the lid 33 is equippedwith an upwardly projecting arm 36, which is provided with a sort ofbutton or enlargement 37, conveniently arranged for outward pressure bythe thumb of the hand which grasps the handle 35. Vhen the lid is thrownto the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, the device is incondition for use.

From the foregoing description, the use of my improved device will bereadily understood. In all forms of the device, the user grasps thehandle with one hand and with the thumb of the same hand opens the lidwhich is normally closed. The tray is then held with its front member 9in engagement with the surface from which the crumbs are to be removedand at any desired angle. After the crumbs are thrown upon the member 9,they may be thrown over into the body of the receptacle beyond theretaining flange 27, by tilting the forward edge of the devicesufficiently for the purpose. This is true of all forms of the device.

When it is desired to remove the contents of the receptacle, it issimply turned over so that its bottom shall be uppermost, after whichthe lid is opened and the device tilted forwardly sutliciently to allow-its contents to roll out over the open lid. If necessary, the bottom ofthe device may be rapped with sufficient force to dislodge any materialthat may have a tendency to stick.

It must be understood that the invention is not limited to the detailsof construction herein set forth, since applicant is aware that manymodifications may be devised without departing from the spirit of theinvention, as set forth in the appended claims. It is also evident thatthe device may be employed as a dust-pan. In this form of the device,however, it would evidently be made considerably larger than where `itis intended for use as a crumb tray.

In order to facilitate the use of the device for the purpose stated, theforwardly protruding member 9 projects slightly beyond the body of thedevice at bot h ends whereby its front edge is slightly longer than thebody of the receptacle, thus increasing to some extent the width ofspace cleared by the tray when in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A device of the class described, comprising a receptacle having afront opening, a hinged lid for closing the same, the said lid having aninwardly protruding slotted part, located at one extremity thereof, aspring actuated stem provided with a lug adapted to enter the slot ofthe inwardly projecting partl of the lid, whereby as the stem is presseddownwardly, the lid is thrown to the open position, substantially asdescribed.

2. An article of the class described, comprising a receptacle having ahinged closure in front and an inwardly projecting bottom memberextending beyond the closure, the device being provided with a retainingflange extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a lid hinged to thetop of the receptacle and having an inwardly protruding slotted partlocated at one extremity of the receptacle, a spring-actuated stemhaving one extremity externally located, while the other extremity isconcealed within the device and equipped with a lug, which engages theslotted part connected with the lid for operating purposes,substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a receptacle having anopening in the frontof the lid adapted to close said receptacle, andhaving an inwardly projecting partl located at one end of thereceptacle, an auxiliary compartment located at one end of thereceptacle and separated therefrom by a slotted partition, an operatingstem protruding into the said compartment, a spring also located in thecompartment and engaging the stem, the stem having a lug protrudingthrough the slot of the partition,

and an operative connection between the said lug and 'the inwardlyprojecting part of the lid for the purpose set forth.

4. A crumb tray comprising a receptacle closed in the rear, but having afront opening, and a bottom member extending forwardly, a lid hinged tothe forward part of the device and normally closing the opening, the lidhaving an inwardly projecting slotted part at one extremity, a springactuated stem, provided with a lug mounted in the receptacle, the lugadapted to enter the slot of the inwardly projecting part of the lid,whereby as the stem is pressed downwardly, the lid is actuated foropening the same, substantially as described.

5. A crumb tray, comprising a crumb receptacle, having a front opening,and a normally projecting bottom portion, a crumb retaining plate oriange located in the receptacle rearwardly'of the projecting portion, ahinged closure occupying a position forwardly of the retaining plate,when in a closed position, the closure having an inwardly projectingslotted member, and means engaging the slotted member for opening theclosure for receiving the material beyond the retaining plate,substantially as described.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a receptacle constitutingthe body part of the device, an auxiliary compartment located in oneextremity of the device, and separated therefrom by a slotted partition,a pin having a part entering the said compartment, and being providedwith a lug projecting through the slot in the partition, the body of thedevice having a hinged lid, provided with an inwardly projecting slottedpart, the slot of the said part adapted to receive the lug of the stem,whereby when the stem is pressed downwardly against the tension of thespring, the lid is actuated to throw the same to the open position,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AMOS V. GREEN.

Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, Jnssm HOBART.

